Transcript Highlights:

• And we also have service dog Ford with them today.
• And we also have service dog Ford with them today.
• You have adopted the House Committee Substitute.
• It passed out of our committee 15 to nothing.
• It passed out of our committee 15 to nothing.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal by roll call vote, 114-1. Members spent a large portion of the morning introducing guests and recognizing visitors, including career and technical education students, FFA and FCCLA groups, school leaders, interns, a physician of the day, and a Black History Month personal privilege honoring inventor Alice H. Parker and her early central heating design. The chamber then took up several bills for perfection and printing. House Bill 1847, the Missouri Dental and Dental Hygienist Compact, was presented as a workforce and access-to-care measure; members cited dental shortages and broad professional support, and it was ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 1866, dealing with peace officer licensure, was presented as allowing the Department of Public Safety to deny applicants whose licenses were revoked or suspended elsewhere and to require U.S. citizenship; an amendment to allow lawful permanent residents who honorably served in the military to qualify was debated at length but failed 95-52, and the bill was then ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 1908, with a companion bill, was described by its sponsor as ending a Missouri rule that delays divorce when a spouse is pregnant; supporters framed it as a due process and safety issue, especially for abuse survivors, and it was adopted and ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 1961, creating temporary licensure and a compact for dietitians, and House Bill 2180, changing Department of Revenue notice delivery options for blind pension recipients and taxpayers to include first-class mail and electronic delivery, both drew support as workforce or accessibility measures and were ordered perfected and printed after amendments. House Bill 2591, which would let speech-language pathologists count clinical fellowship experience completed in any state toward Missouri licensure, also passed perfection and printing. The House then moved to announcements and recessed until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, human services, it sounds like they're having a public meeting at 4.
• </c> though they're not conference committee though they're not conference committee reports,<00:10:35.200
• And then in, um, the human services bill, I believe there's additional language relating to going after
• </c><00:20:43.039><c> services</c><00:20:43.520><c> bill,</c> And then in um the human services bill,
• And then in um the human services bill, I<00:20:44.159><c> believe</c><00:20:44.320><c> there's</c><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• am</c><01:03:48.160><c> working</c> and Human Services, but I am working and Human Services, but I am
• </c> committee. Thank you. committee. Thank you.
• The majority of the Committee on Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services, to which was referred
• The majority of the committee on labor, industrial, and rehabilitative services, to which was referred
• The majority of the committee on labor, industrial, and rehabilitative services, to which was referred

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , legislative council, statutory revision, committee on legal services.
• I move House Bill 1109 and the Health and Human Services Committee report to the committee report.
• I move House Bill 1109 and the Health and Human Services Committee report to the committee report.
• Seeing none, the question before us is the adoption of the Health and Human Services Committee report
• c><01:35:46.880><c> services</c><01:35:47.280><c> in</c> the department of human services in the department

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, and the committee members. Good morning, Mr. Chairman, and the committee members.
• What does it mean to have a human in the loop or have human oversight in our classrooms?
• This committee is corrupt.
• Chairman Buckley and members of the committee, my Chairman Buckley and members of the committee, my name
• The third thing I would say is AI should never become a substitute for human support services in school

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair Rest and committee. It is good to be back in Taxes Committee.
• </c> to the committee for your review. to the committee for your review.
• </c> support specialist after service. support specialist after service.
• </c> committee going forward. committee going forward.
• </c> behalf of the committee. behalf of the committee.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> committee stop. Is that right? committee stop. Is that right?
• Could it hang a human?"
• </c> the committee? the committee?
• other committee.
• </c> &gt;&gt; There is no floor in committee. &gt;&gt; There is no floor in committee.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It needs to be heard in the Ag Committee.
• committee, Housing.
• Committee on Education Finance and be re-referred to the Committee on Children and Families Finance
• Representative Schumacher moves that House Bill 2533 be recalled from the Committee on Human Services
• Representative Backer moves that House Bill 2604 be recalled from the Committee on Human Services Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair moves House File 794 before the committee, with the Chair's intent to lay the bill over.
• Those families are often left navigating a confusing maze of services and support with no clear path
• Good afternoon, Chair Backer and members of the committee.
• </c><00:03:16.440><c> for</c> backer and members of the committee for backer and members of the committee
• Please support House File 794 and help improve dementia services for Minnesotans. Thank you.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In the Joint Appropriations Committee we did with the Senate today, there were 28 members total, only
• Madam Whip and members, House Bill 4162 is the Human Services Budget Bill, which contains provisions
• Madam Whip and members, House Bill 4162 is the Human Services Budget Bill, which contains provisions
• Services Budget Bill, which contains provisions needed to implement the FY 2027 budget.
• We're going on to the Committee of Health and Human Services: SB 1630.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to this 9:00 a.m. hearing of the House Committee on Health and the House Committee on Labor.
• </c> committee on health and house committee committee on health and house committee on<00:08:49.000>
• </c> 1244 as the state's only full service 1244 as the state's only full service maternity<00:18:17.799
• This joint committee is adjourned.
• human health.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Health and Labor heard testimony on HB 1244, a measure relating to labor standards at health care facilities and nursing staff ratios. Committee members opened by explaining hearing procedures, including a suggested two-minute testimony limit and Zoom rules. The bill drew extensive testimony from hospitals, nursing organizations, unions, and individual nurses, with the central debate focusing on whether staffing ratios should be set by statute or left to collective bargaining and unit-level staffing decisions. Opponents included the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Straub Benioff Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kapiolani Medical Center, and Queen’s Health Systems. They argued that fixed ratios are too rigid for the changing conditions of hospital care, could worsen workforce shortages, and should be handled through labor negotiations, staffing committees, and existing agreements. Several also pointed to investments in nursing education, loan repayment, and workforce development as better solutions. Queen’s said it had recently reached an agreement with nurses after more than 40 meetings that included a staffing framework, and Kapiolani and others emphasized the need for flexibility in emergencies and specialty care. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Pride at Work Hawaii, the Hawaii Nurses Association/American Nurses Association chapter, Hawaii Nurses Association Local 50, UNAC/UHCP, and individual nurses, said unsafe staffing levels contribute to burnout, turnover, errors, and patient harm. Testifiers described chronic short staffing, emotionally and physically exhausting workloads, and situations in which nurses were responsible for too many patients at once. Supporters argued that safe ratios are necessary to protect both patients and nurses, and that collective bargaining has not been enough to ensure safe conditions statewide, especially in facilities without unions. No vote or final committee action was announced in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Judea Serrata to serve as director of the United States Marshal Service.
• Marshals Service, fellow Floridian, Gatti Saralto.
• Toward the end of my career, I returned to uniformed services.
• Marshals Service, inviting them to resign.
• Marshal Service, myself if I'm confirmed, every deputy that has ever sworn an oath to the Marshal Service

Keywords: fentanyl crisis, DEA, drug trafficking, public safety, Judea Serrata, Terrence Cole, judicial security, social media, drug prevention

Summary: The committee meeting centered on the urgent crisis of fentanyl abuse and the government’s response to the drug trafficking epidemic. Key discussions revolved around the nomination of Terrence Cole as the Administrator of the DEA and Judea Serrata as Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. Cole emphasized his commitment to combating the fentanyl crisis, highlighting the rising number of overdose deaths and the necessity of bipartisan efforts to dismantle drug cartels. Members engaged in dialogue on the effectiveness of various strategies and the importance of education aimed at preventing drug-related deaths among youth. Additionally, the challenges of social media in drug trafficking were highlighted, indicating a need for greater accountability in how platforms handle such issues. Senators voiced concerns about the impact of administration policies on judicial security and the resources available for marshals to perform their critical roles.

Transcript Highlights:

• These partners include the state hospital team in Jamestown, the Department of Health and Human Services
• Services, IT, and Job Service.
• Appropriations from Human Services, the courts, and then also the Office of Management and Budget have
• Going into Health and Human Services, just a couple of items here.
• Going into Health and Human Services, just a couple of items here.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes. The committee first heard an update from the Petroleum Council on oil and gas activity in North Dakota. Ron Ness said production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with efficiency gains and longer laterals helping offset lower rig counts. He discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, northward movement of drilling activity, and the importance of new infrastructure and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) pilots. Members asked about gas taxation, natural gas liquids, pipeline impacts, and the outlook for Continental and other operators. Ness said the industry is likely to remain steady rather than see a major ramp-up or decline. Matt Pearl of the State Tax Department then explained the federal “big beautiful bill” and its effect on North Dakota income tax collections. He said the law extends or makes permanent several federal provisions and creates temporary deductions for seniors, tips, overtime, and auto loan interest, with the biggest state impact coming from the standard deduction increase and business tax changes. He revised earlier estimates downward, saying the net cash impact on state collections is likely in the $30 million to $35 million range after accounting for business prepayments and one-time FY25 oilfield transaction effects. Committee members asked which provisions apply to standard versus itemized returns. OMB staff gave a detailed update on major capital projects and facility funding. Topics included Capitol grounds improvements such as 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding, seating, lighting, tree management, and restroom and lobby upgrades; security work at the governor’s residence, which has been delayed by the discovery of human remains; and space reconfiguration efforts in Bismarck-Mandan to reduce leases and create shared offices and conference rooms. They also reported on the State Facility Maintenance Fund, including roof, window, boiler, and kitchen projects at state facilities, and on the state hospital project in Jamestown, which remains on budget and on schedule for substantial completion in winter 2027 and opening in spring 2028. OMB also updated the committee on the Minot North Central State Office Building, the use of federal State Fiscal Recovery Funds, and the status of legislative intent and trust fund reports, including school aid turnback, the school construction loan program, the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund, the Legacy Fund, and the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund. The committee ended by discussing future agenda items, including government efficiency, cash management, Bank of North Dakota lines of credit, and the rural health transformation program, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Denny Chan from Justice in Aging; Brian Kaplan from the California Health and Human Services
• So we'll move on to the California Health and Human Services Agency. Thank you.
• Services Agency.
• So if you think about, for example, the service... Services they need.
• Welcome to the committee. Thank you. Committee Chair. Welcome to the committee.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, Washingtonians went forward to fund vital services.
• Everyone in Washington should have access to and benefit from public services.
• Invest in public services that actually support the people.
• Invest in public services that actually supports the people.
• You will not starve our public service.

Summary: The meeting was a press conference and Q&A led by Rep. Shaun Scott to promote the proposed Well Washington Fund, a new dedicated account intended to raise about $3 billion annually through a corporate payroll tax on wages above $125,000. Scott said the bill would help offset expected federal cuts under Trump-era policies and support programs most at risk, including cash assistance, higher education, health care, housing, and wildfire mitigation. He also referenced two related proposals: restoring wildfire mitigation funding by ending a tax break for large banks, and allowing counties to raise corporate taxes. Several advocates and affected residents testified in support of progressive revenue. Michelle Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance warned that federal homelessness policy changes and state underinvestment could worsen homelessness and evictions. Christina Savitsky, a disabled veteran, described how Medicaid, food assistance, and work requirements would affect her family. Representatives from the University of Washington AAUP said federal cuts and Medicaid changes threaten teaching, research, workforce training, and hospital finances. Fatima Boxwala of Tech for Taxes and Mikey Stramskis of the Washington Federation of State Employees argued that large corporations and the wealthy should pay more to sustain public services and address understaffing, burnout, and service backlogs. In the Q&A, Scott said the bill may need an emergency clause to make it referendum-proof and argued that the legislature has a mandate to act, citing the 2024 capital gains tax referendum and the state’s regressive tax system. He acknowledged concerns about businesses leaving but said he was more concerned about working people being displaced by unaffordable housing, child care, and health care. No vote or formal committee action occurred; the event was a call for a hearing in the House Finance Committee in 2026 and for legislative passage in both chambers.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Director of the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health at the Department of Human Services
• I'm the Director of the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health at the Department of Human Services
• We reimburse for psychiatric services, mental health services, and in psychiatric hospitals or in psychiatric
• A specific provider type for substance use disorder services for adolescents, for residential services
• It is a way in which we verify the services, the start date, start time, end time, date, place of service

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our work gets bundled with the work of the human services and the health committee on an annual basis
• Our work gets bundled with the work of the human services and the health committee on an annual basis
• Our work gets bundled with the work of the human services and the health committee on an annual basis
• Our work gets bundled with the work of the human services and the health committee on an annual basis
• Gets bundled with the work of the human services and the health committee on an annual basis, and I just

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4466, the Health Finance and Policy bill, and first adopted the A8 amendment, described as a set of technical fixes. Members then considered a large A9 amendment that bundled a wide range of Children and Families provisions, including child care licensing modernization, crisis nursery licensing, SNAP/MFIT-related language, child care provider self-reporting, a physical abuse recognition poster, child protection and welfare provisions, funding for parent support outreach, and forensic interview training scholarships. Supporters described it as bipartisan work with relatively small fiscal impact, while opponents said it greatly expanded the bill and should be handled separately; after a roll call, the A9 amendment failed 7-14. Representative Scott then offered the A11 amendment, raising concerns about new all-payer claims database language and whether it should have been heard in the Judiciary and Civil Law Committee. Department of Health staff explained the data-sharing safeguards, de-identification process, fee structure, and enforcement provisions, but Scott remained concerned about privacy and the scope of the program and withdrew the amendment. The committee then moved to final bill discussion. Members and authors described HF 4466 as a lean health finance bill largely conforming Minnesota law to federal HR1 Medicaid-related changes, including work requirements, retroactive eligibility limits, cost-sharing, and home equity provisions. Supporters argued conformity was necessary to avoid major federal funding losses and noted a few additional member bills in the package; opponents criticized the federal changes as harmful, especially for vulnerable populations such as victims of trafficking and domestic violence. Fiscal staff said the bill would save just over $2 million in FY 2026-27 and almost $98 million in FY 2028-29. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we ask humans we ask humans for,<00:02:32.360><c> good</c><00:02:32.760><c> souls</c> for, good
• </c><00:04:17.239><c> on</c> Members, earlier today the Committee on Members, earlier today the Committee
• </c> during his lifetime of public service. during his lifetime of public service.
• </c> service as a state trooper. service as a state trooper.
• </c> from Champlain Community Services here. from Champlain Community Services here.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paula Stone, Director, Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Department of Human Services.
• And Elizabeth Pittman, Director for Division of Medical Services, Department of Human Services.
• So this allows us to be able to reimburse for those services.
• The next rule is to allow the Department of Human Services to participate in the cell and gene therapy
• The next rule is to allow the Department of Human Services to participate in the cell and gene therapy

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paula Stone, Director, Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Department of Human Services.
• And Elizabeth Pittman, Director for Division of Medical Services, Department of Human Services.
• So this allows us to be able to reimburse for those services.
• The next rule is to allow the Department of Human Services to participate in the cell and gene therapy
• The next rule is to allow the Department of Human Services to participate in the cell and gene therapy

Summary: The committee opened with prayer, approved the January 7 meeting minutes, and then reviewed several Department of Human Services rules. One rule would allow rehabilitative hospitals to open psychiatric units, provide acute psychiatric services, and receive Medicaid reimbursement, addressing a service gap, especially in Jefferson County. Another rule would let DHS participate in a CMS cell and gene therapy model to support value-based payment agreements for treating sickle cell disorder with CGT therapy. A third DHS rule would exempt the state from the CMS recovery audit contractor requirement. DHS explained that recovery audit contractors typically work on contingency to identify fraud, waste, abuse, or overpayments, but Arkansas law prohibits contingency arrangements of that kind. DHS said the state already has multiple other program integrity layers, including internal reviews, an external payment integrity office, the Office of Medicaid Inspector General, and the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Members asked for clarification on the role of recovery audit contractors, and DHS responded that they perform post-payment audits and recoveries. All three DHS rules were reviewed without objection. Near the end of the meeting, Representative Pilkington asked about a reported increase in uninsured individuals in a DHS postpartum report, but DHS said it was not prepared to answer and would follow up offline. Representative Johnson also asked about a handout related to program integrity and Arkansas Medicaid. The committee then adjourned.